Pneumatic valve for airborne materials

ABSTRACT

A quick-acting valve for routing solid fibrous materials by adjustable direction of air streams. The air streams and design of the pneumatic valve of this invention are such that routing the flow of material through preferred routes can be accomplished by manipulation of air currents. The design of the valve provides for the elimination of movable parts, such as hinged leaf or blade, to block the optional routes.

United States Patent 1 1 Griffin, Jr. et al.

PNEUMATIC VALVE FOR AIRBORNE MATERIALS Inventors: Anselm C. Griffin,Jr.; Charles A.

Collins; Joe S. Ferriss, Jr., all of Leland, Miss.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary ofAgriculture, Washington, DC.

Filed: July 6, 1973 Appl. No.2 376,972

Assignee:

us. Cl 302/28, 137/836, 302/64 Int. Cl. B65g 53/56 Field Of Search137/829, 832, 836; 302/28,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hausmann 137/836 X 1 Mar. 25,1975 3,285,262 11/1966 Ernst et a1. 137/836 3,431,027 3/1969 Koclley, Jr302/28 3,544,170 12/1970 Bowles 302/28 3,567,288 3/1971 Wood 302/283,578,009 5/1971 Spyropoulos 137/832 Primary ExaminerEvon C. BlunkAssistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson Attorney, Agent, or FirmM. HowardSilverstein; Max D. Hensley [57] ABSTRACT A quick-acting valve forrouting solid fibrous materials by adjustable direction of air streams.The air streams and design of the pneumatic valve of this invention aresuch that routing the flow of material through preferred routes can beaccomplished by manipulation of air currents. The design of the valveprovides for the elimination of movable parts, such as hinged leaf orblade, to block the optional routes.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PNEUMATIC VALVE FOR AIRBORNE MATERIALS Anon-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention hereindescribed throughout the world for all purposes of the United StatesGovernment, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, ishereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to valves. Specifically, this in vention relatesto valves for routing solid fibrous materials being conveyed throughducts with optional routes. More specifically, this invention relates toquick-acting valves for routing materials such as raw stock cotton beingconveyed by air stream into one of several routes. This valve findsutility in the operation of a cotton gin.

PRIOR ART Historically, from the time of the first cotton gin, cottonfibers have been conveyed from the gin saws by air currents that aregenerated either by (l) a doffing brush that also serves as a fan, or(2) a blast of air emitted from a doffing nozzle in the air blast" typeof gin. In present day ginneries the ginned lint may be conveyed by airin rectangular ducts or round pipes directly from gin stand to balingpress, or alternately, to either of one or more lint cleaning machines,the particular route being selected by the ginner. The current method ofrouting ginned lint requires the conventional hinged leaf type routeselector valves be positioned with no cotton flowing in the ducts. Whenhinged-leaf type valves are operated with cotton flowing in the systemlint fibers usually hang on the leaf and prevent it from properlyseating in the new position, or if the lint flow is sufficiently densethe duct may become immediately choked with fibers. Such chokages delaythe ginning process, reduce production, and add to the cost of ginning.Improperly seated directional valves usually become clogged or causeunwanted variations in the air flow pattern.

The prior art does not teach the use of pneumatic valves in the mannerapplicable to the pneumatic valve ofthe present invention. There hasbeen no use of controlled air current to selectively route cotton fibersinto one oftwo or more optional routes. This valve is unique in cottonginning history. It is unique in that it contains no moving parts, suchas a hinged leaf or blad that would block one of the optional routes.

The main object of this invention is to provide a means of changing theroute of cotton fibers being conveyed in air streams without choking theconveying duct.

A second object of this invention is to provide a means of routingcotton into particular ducts without the necessity of shutting down thepneumatic transport system or interrupting the cotton ginning process.

A third object of this invention is to provide a means of routing cottonor other materials and at the same time eliminate thr troubles thataccompany hinged leaf valves due to wear and poor fit of their componentparts.

This invention can best be described as an apparatus or device which isa quick acting valve for routing materials such as cotton in a cottongin as the material is being conveyed by an air stream. The valve cangenerally be installed at a point where more than one route should beavailable for selection in routing. The valve is unique in that itcontains no moving parts within the ducts where the fibers are beingconveyed. The valve operates in a manner which eliminates the need of amechanical obstruction to block one of the optional routes. This valveoperates equally well whether the conveying air is being propelled by ablow-fan or a suction-fan or a combination of the two.

The force that directs the material being conveyed is provided by eitherof two air jets so positioned and directed as to blow the material intothe desired branching duct.

A visual interpretation of the preferred embodiments of the apparatuswhich is an illustration of the invention is presented graphically inthese FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the pneumatic valve for airbornematerials which is the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation view of vertically positioned plenae.

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation view of potential block systems thatcould be used with the plenum.

FIG. 4 is a dimensioned isometric view of a working model of thepneumatic valve which is the apparatus of this invention.

Operation of the valve can be understood by referring to FIG. 1. Thepath of the conveyed material is from the main duct 1 into either of thebranching ducts 2a or 2b. A source of pressurized air is connected tothe plenum chambers 3a and 3b and the air is allowed to enter the mainduct 1 through either of the nozzles 4. Air is prevented from leavingone of the plenae but at the same time it is allowed to leave the otherthrough the nozzle 4 to impart a directing force on the conveyedmaterial so that it enters the branching duct 2 opposite the activenozzle 4.

The flow of air from the plenae 3a and 3b may be controlled eithermanually or automatically by opening and closing the nozzle aperture atthe plenum by means of a leaf, rod, or wedge 5a, 5b, and 50, or otherblocking device (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 2 indicates that the blocking device 5 can be operated by variousconvenient means, as illustrated. FIG. 2 also shows the blocking device5 in its relationship to plenum 3 and nozzle 4. Air blockage at thenozzle is guaranteed by the gasket 7 which is attached to the innersurface of plenum 3 and prevents air leaking between the blocking device5 and walls of the plenum chamber 3.

The blocking device 5 is raised and lowered by means of an operating rod6, FIG. 2. Air leakage is prevented by air-seal bushing 8.

The means for connecting the plenum chambers 3 to source of pressurizedair and the means for actuating the operating rods 6 are now shown. Thisis a minor problem since they may be located and connected asconvenience dictates.

In a typical installation the directing nozzles 4 should be located inthe main duct 1 just before it branches. The plenum-and-nozzleassemblies are not rigidly attached to the main duct but are attached bymeans of a flexible joint 9 so that the angle for most favorableoperation may be obtained by trial. The optimum angle setting willdepend upon many factors, among which are the velocity of the conveyingair, the material being conveyed, the nozzle area, the pressure of theair in the plenum chamber, and the depth of the ducts.

We claim:

l. A pneumatic valve for selectively routing airborne solid fibrousmaterials within a pneumatic system by controllably activating currentsof air at the exclusion of mechanical means, said valve consisting ofvarious component parts fastened to the main ducts of a pneumaticsystem, to function as a unit accessory to the said pneumatic system,the pneumatic valve comprising:

the main duct and preceding the area of attachment of the branchingducts, said plenum chambers having their respective plannar axesoriented quasi-perpendicular to the planar axes of the branching ducts,each of said plenum chambers constituting a funnel-like structure toconvey a jet air stream into a flexible nozzle which connects to andempties its air contents into the branching ducts, each of the saidplenum chambers having a surface to which is attached a tubular flexibleduct, and each of said plenum chambers containing a gate to stop thepassage of air at the nozzle end of the plenum chamber, each of saidgates being actuated controllably open or shut from outside of theplenum chamber.

1. A pneumatic valve for selectively routing airborne solid fibrousmaterials within a pneumatic system by controllably activating currentsof air at the exclusion of mechanical means, said valve consisting ofvarious component parts fastened to the main ducts of a pneumaticsystem, to function as a unit accessory to the said pneumatic system,the pneumatic valve comprising: a. a main duct to receive the airbornefibrous solid materials, to be secured to the main duct of an existingpneumatic system, and positioned as a continuation of the said existingpneumatic system, b. a plurality of branching ducts secured to the mainduct at oblique angles and linearly continuing therefrom, the dimensionsof said branching ducts being of the same magnitude as those of the mainduct, and c. a plurality of plenum chambers secured flexibly to the mainduct and preceding the area of attachment of the branching ducts, saidplenum chambers having their respective plannar axes orientedquasi-perpendicular to the planar axes of the branching ducts, each ofsaid plenum chambers constituting a funnel-like structure to convey ajet air stream into a flexible nozzle which connects to and empties itsair contents into the branching ducts, each of the said plenum chambershaving a surface to which is attached a tubular flexible duct, and eachof said plenum chambers containing a gate to stop the passage of air atthe nozzle end of the plenum chamber, each of said gates being actuatedcontrollably open or shut from outside of the plenum chamber.